I recently ran a course on the likely changes to ISO9001 and as part of the introductions asked the delegates to tell the group a bit about themselves and their management system, and to share how they thought their update process would work. One of the group told us that at the last visit their certification body auditor had told them that their manual was 'not in the right style or format' so he'd re-written it all for them as part of the audit. My hackles rose and I could see bewildered faces around the rest of the room. Of course it transpired that the certification had been issued by a non-UKAS approved body, and when the individual stayed back at the end of the course to ask why I'd raised my eyebrows at the news of the auditor writing the manual it took all my skills of tact and diplomacy to explore, gently, what independence was there and how much faith they could put in the person writing the manual being at all objective about it. I asked what trails they'd followed during the audit and found that because they'd been so busy doing the re-write they hadn't had time to actually audit . . . .
Time after time companies are hoodwinked into believing that there is value in having a system written by and certificated by one of these non-UKAS bodies. Time after time I feel so sorry for them - they've been 'had' - convinced that this is a good solution and that the badge they will proudly present on their website shows they have something of value in place. Time after time those who understand Quality Management Systems will look at the badge and think 'oh no, another poor soul sold a pup'. Sad times, and the cost savings they think they will have made will be far offset by the fact that anyone who knows anything will look, laugh and pass them by for that lucrative contract. If you are thinking of seeking certification for any management standard make sure you pick a certification body which is UKAS approved, or approved by another National body. Don't be sold a pup!
Time after time companies are hoodwinked into believing that there is value in having a system written by and certificated by one of these non-UKAS bodies. Time after time I feel so sorry for them - they've been 'had' - convinced that this is a good solution and that the badge they will proudly present on their website shows they have something of value in place. Time after time those who understand Quality Management Systems will look at the badge and think 'oh no, another poor soul sold a pup'. Sad times, and the cost savings they think they will have made will be far offset by the fact that anyone who knows anything will look, laugh and pass them by for that lucrative contract. If you are thinking of seeking certification for any management standard make sure you pick a certification body which is UKAS approved, or approved by another National body. Don't be sold a pup!
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